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Bailey ruled out of Titans finale

Laine Clark

In a cruel twist to Gold Coast's already devastating NRL season, retiring Titans forward Luke Bailey has been denied an official farewell due to a neck injury.

Just 24 hours earlier Bailey, 34, had been presented to the media talking up his hopes of being sent out a winner in the third-last side's NRL season finale on Sunday, a home clash against top eight aspirants the Bulldogs.

However, medical staff on Friday did what few could during Bailey's remarkable 15-year career - they stopped the ex-Test prop in his tracks.

The Titans said they pulled the pin after scans revealed Bailey risked a long term injury if his neck complaint was aggravated against Canterbury.

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"Retiring prop Luke Bailey has been hit with the devastating news that he has been ruled out of his planned farewell match for the Titans against the Canterbury Bulldogs on Sunday," a Titans spokesman said.

"After discussing the results of scans on his neck with a specialist today it was decided Bailey would not play as there was a risk of long term damage if he suffered a similar injury."

Bailey had suffered a recurrence of a previous disc injury in the match against his former club St George Illawarra in what was his 150th game for the Titans - and missed last Sunday's Warriors clash.

Bailey looked a certain starter when he fronted the media on Thursday saying he would play the match "regardless" of what the medical team said.

He even joked that he had to fire up the Titans ahead of a match that would also farewell England-bound forward Mark Minichiello.

"I am trying to push the vibe but I don't know if anyone is receiving it," he joked when asked about the vibe ahead of their clash.

"I think I will have a chat with the boys.

"I am not trying to be selfish but I will say 'don't win it for me but let's finish on a good note'."

The Titans' season finale on Sunday will draw the curtain on a special era at the club.

Both Bailey and Minichiello were integral to not only Gold Coast forming a competitive side for their 2007 NRL debut but also the Titans bucking the odds by claiming top four finishes from 2009-10.

Bailey admitted on Thursday a final win would rate a distant second to retiring fully healthy.

"To leave with my health and fitness and beautiful family, I am just excited about that," Bailey said.

"But it would be good if we had a good old fashioned tough game on Sunday and gave the Bulldogs a run for their money.

"You want to do a lap around the ground after a tough game, not after you got flogged."